Feel Good

Our weather is a little silly right now. Summer will hold on and humidity will hang in the air thick and low until rain finally gives in and decides to come and share its love and bring that vital water into our environment as promised. :-) (brown nosing potential rain - a new low I have sunk to)

All of this impacts on our wellbeing which means that our circulatory systems will be working overtime and totally out of alignment. More energy will be required to address the unbalance - hence your tiredness.

There are many nasty little lergies scurrying around us as we speak.All you need to fight any lergy is a strong immune system.However as we live here and now with all the 21st century pros and cons, the reality is that our immune systems are not working to their optimum levels.

First place to start to is feel good about yourself. Pamper yourself a little:

1. Long Bath - add some sandalwood and basil oils.Once you HAVE the lergy - boil 6 oranges and 2 ginger stalks (sliced and diced)add a very hot bath. Let yourself sweat and sting for 20 minutes.

2. Get a massage - head, whole body, feet, and hands - use geranium, ylang ylang, jasmine and bergamot oils

3. Pressure Points - 3 inches down from your knee cap - find the sore spot and massage and rub yourself every 30 minutes. Find the sore spot in between your thumb and pointer and massage and rub every other 30 minutes

4. If you have a lingering headache, relieve it by getting 2 buckets of boiling hot water, add 6 drops of lavender oils into each and place one foot into each bucket for 30 minutes or until you have to run to the toilet.

5. Drink herbal teas - peppermint, ginger, chamomile or plain hot water 6 times a day

6. Drink 4 litres of water each day.

7. Begin your day with fresh juice - carrot, ginger, apple, beetroot, pineapple, celery

8. Avoid caffeine, sugar, wheat and dairy

9. East Plenty of Fruit, Soup, Salad, Rice, Curry and Stir Fry

10. Take Echinacea or Olive Leaf Extract - 4 tablets every 4 hours

11. Drink one tablespoon of Swedish Bitters every 4 hours

12. Try to avoid panadol and antibiotics and cold tablets as they reduce the efficiency of your immune system by attacking your liver to take the bodies attention away from the congested bits. Distraction isn't a positive long term remedy for health.

13. Take Valerian if you really need to address pain.

14. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: Get some loving - hugs, caresses, kisses (Oh OK not if you are in full lergy swing) and tons of sex.

Feeling loved, wanted and believed in cures EVERYTHING

Fog Creeps

A dusty, open faced ceramic wall clock in the corner of the Nepali tea room declared the time as two o’clock in the afternoon. Clouds have descended over the military base like aliens waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting B grade American movie. The small hand on this timepiece takes an hour to move to the next number with ticking that only seems to become slower as the seconds pour themselves into being. Watching the clock won’t bring the planes in from Kathmandu today. The fog creeps over the distant mountain and twenty degrees fall in the expectant air around me. Watching the runway won’t get me home today.
As I search for a familiar face in this sea of military and trekking individuals, I wonder how, on the 1st day in December 2003, I found myself sitting alone, freezing and bewildered beside an empty air strip in Lukla, 2800 metres above sea level in the Himalayas.

Born in the US of A....not

One of my dreams as a child was always to travel.

Since 2000, I have achieved that dream part way and have visited quite a few countries - still many many more to go.

Looking back on my journals from the first big venture OS, I have to laugh at myself as I listed my greatest lessons at the time. We were all so small minded and the first adventure occuring in the United States of America was probably a good way to dampen the culture shock. Actually in every trip, going to the toilet has occupied MOST of the adventure!

Doors are pushed OUT to go IN
East is West - Right is Left
Toilets flush DOWN not UP unless of course Sam went first then call theHousekeeping.
Toilets flush themselves
Taps turn themselves ON and OFF
There are no bath plugs.
Lights switch UPAlways arrange for Tim to visit the Restroom FIRST and arrange for 20minutes of extra activity while waiting for him.
Check out your rental car in the FIRST day not the LAST day to locate thecup holders for the driver.
Keep no less than ten dollars worth of quarters on your person at alltimes.
Five cent coins are BIGGER than ten cent coins.
The Aussie dollar may be worth just over half a US dollar, but it STILLcosts FIVE DOLLARS to get ONE dollars worth of quarters for the laundry.
Australia is a small suburb somewhere in England."Your English is pretty good considering it's your second language - whatlanguage do you normally speak?".
Alex can and will be mistaken for an eleven-year-old who can obtain achild admission anywhere in the known civilised world.
There is no such thing as TOMATO SAUCE - only ketchup.
On American radio there are only two types of music played - LATINO andCOUNTRY.
Destiny's Child and 98 Degrees are IN (remember this is 2000)
Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys are OUT (ditto)
VAN HALEN will be forever included on American Radio Playlists.
The BIGGEST radio hit currently in LA goes like this: "Who let the DogOut - Woof Woof Woof Woof" (Repeat 20 times to hear the entire song) - eventually we ALL got to know this song in OZ didnt we?
Australian children have a genuine psychotic fear of parents who know allthe words to every 80's song played on the Highway Grand Canyon radio stationand who sing them LOUDLY for five hour stretches.
Always order coffee WITH milk and SUGAR if you don't want it black.
Orders must include one of the following: TO GO - ON THE SIDE - STRAIGHTUP
OVER EASY is about your eggs and not your personality.
Common Courtesy and politeness like Good Morning and Thank You areig nored.
A dollar Bill ALWAYS gets attention.
Another way of receiving attention is to drive down a one way street on the wrong side of the road...SLOWLY...
And always expect to meet the rudest most ignorant Hotel Manager on your
very last night in America - "No there are only TWO beds available - take it orleave it!" - and crying and yelling don't change a thing.

Welcome to America!!!

Magic Moments in Europe

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers, that the mind can never break off from the journey. " Pat Conroy from The Prince of Tides

I had the BEST time - even now - months later - I still feel excited at the thought of my trip. Great moments frozen in time:

Soccer Frenzy in Every Country
The Shooting Star over the Roof Terrace in Rome
Fireworks in Sorrento
Flower Sellers Face at the Trevi Fountain when I thanked his Mother (Oh bring it on beyattchhh!!!)
Realising in Amsterdam that Hollandaise sauce actually comes from Holland.
Spewing in Cologne
The smell of REAL strawberries in Switzerland
Hearing a German band sing ACDC
Looking for a fictional Beggar Woman in the streets of Venice
St Marks Square Venice at night - Tenors Singing, Medieval Buildings alight - the air was thick with beauty and love - and la bella luna e l'amore.
Swiss Band Chulee yodelling through We Will Rock You complete with accordion.
Looking for Sausages in Heidelberg
Texting Jody from Cannes while She is in Labour
Daily Seat Allocation on the Bus - very important to get it right! ach tung!
Testosterone explosion in Lucerne
Aussie guys picking up a small defenceless little car in Rome and moving it out of the way so that our bus could pass by.
Roman skin flick live cuming in a park near you!
Big Icky and Lil Icky
Cows with Beautiful Eyes in Switzerland
Finding a Magic Room FOR FREE!!

Tune into Me

Live in nature. Be still. Do nothing.
Learn the art of inner stillness.
Stillness provides space for the growth in our relationship.
Watch the moon.
Talk to a tree.
Listen to the rain.
Turn your mobile off, turn the TV off and tune into each other.
Tune into me while I tune into you.

It’s the Little Things

A small forgetfulness – Large anger, frustration and hurt.
Love doesn’t wait for public holidays or marketing opportunities.
Every day is to be celebrated.
There is no reason for celebration – so celebrate that!
Be on time.
Remember.
Put me first sometimes.
Let me put your first sometimes.
Surprise.
Do something unexpected.
Be kind.
We are the most important thing in the universe together

Less Is More

Less stress. Less work. Less rush. Less.
Plan.
Systemise.
Rationalise.
Prioritise.
Grow your love by appreciating your time together.
Daily Pillars of wisdom - “How can I take on more, and do it with less?”
Turn up for each other.
Not after, or when or if but NOW.
Make it happen.
Be there with more energy after work.
Measure the investment you make in this relationship.
Value this love.

Match Dreams

There are seven areas of life.
At any of these levels, we meld in love.
This is who we are.
Physical creates life.
Spiritual is life meaning.
Social integrates.
Mental educates.
Business mediates.
Financial facilitates.
Our relationship is the expression of our life and love together.
Link our values.
Match our dreams.

Find that balance

Live like you mean it.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like no one is watching.
The business of life can never get in the way of our love.
Be true to love.
Love is your lifestyle.

Age of Aquarius

My sun is in Capricorn however my rising star is in Aquarius.

The piece of software that I laboured over for many years and became the bane of my existence was named Aquarius - by me - no idea where that came from.

John was the first Aquarian I had ever been in a relationship with. As it turned out, I wasnt - however time with an Aquarian certainly was an educational experience.

The legend is that we are living in the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

Here is a little background to the previous ages.

The Age of Gemini (c.6000 - c.4000) corresponded to the flourishing period of early Hinduism. It was under this sign that Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu was manifested by the birth of the two pair of brothers: Rama and Lakshmana on the one hand, Satrughna and Bharata on the other. Rama Himself had twin sons: Lav and Kush (in harmony with the name of the constellation where the Sun was at that time.) Lav went to Russia from this we get the name of Slav. The other son, Kush went to China, hence we get the name Kushan. These two divine principles were also incarnated as Buddha and Mahavira, then as Adi Shankaracharya and Gnyaneshwara.

The Age of Taurus (c.4000 - c.2000 B.C.).
The aeon governing this age was Krishna, the eight Avatar, the Lord of the cows (Govinda.) The age stayed under the sign of the bull (Apis, or sacred bull Mnevis of Helipolis, identified to Ra), of the holy cow (Hathor in Egypt, surahbhi or Kamadhenu in India or may be worshipped in many spiritual cultures), or the golden calf in the polytheistic beliefs (see Exodus 32:4), preceding the Judaic monotheism. Krishna was said to have lived at the end of Dvapara Yuga (Encyclopaedia Universalis, Paris 1968, vol. 9, p.711) considered by some to have ended in the year 3102 B.C. (Zimmer, quoted work.)

The Age of Aries (c.2000 - 1 B.C.) was characterized by the establishment of the monotheistic Judaism through great spiritual personalities like Abraham (19th century B.C.) and Moses (13th century B.C.). Generally, this period was dominated by the manifestation of the universal principle of the spiritual master (Adi Guru Dattatreya.) Indeed, before the Christian era, Zarathustra incarnated (7th or 6th or even 10th century according to some opinions), Confucius and Lao-Tse (6th century), Socrates (5th century), alongside with the two great Jewish prophets (see chapt. X.) The symbol of the ram (or the Passover lamb) appeared as an object of sacrifice instead of worship, as a reaction against the belief of the previous age. That could be illustrated by the cult of Mithra who stabbed the mythological bull.

The Age of Pisces (A.D. 1 - c.2000) during which Christianity appeared and spread out. The fish was known to have been the secret sign used by the early Christians to identify each other. The Greek word Ichtus (=fish) was made up of the following phrase capitals (acrostic): Iesous Christos Theou Uios Soter (=Jesus Christ Son of God, the Saviour.) In Hinduism it was also the symbol of the Saviour (Vishnu's first incarnation in the shape of a fish saved Manu from the flood)...Similar to Mahavishnu, Jesus represented the ninth Avatar, who opened the Agnya chakra within the Cosmic Being.

The Age of Aquarius (c.2000 ) starts at the dawn of Satya Yuga. The beginning of this age was estimated by various calculations around the year 2000. Some astrologers believe that mankind will step out of the mystical age of Pisces right into the luminous age of Aquarius between 2000 and 2050, which means the end of superstitions and of dogmatic religions .

Pluto, the mightiest of the planets, is the master of Scorpio until the beginning of the year 1995 and afterwards it will enter Sagittarius. It awakens the old demons to exorcize them completely and this cleansing will bring all the mud from the depths to the surface. The energy will serve to purify man, if it is well used; being perverted it will turn against him. Pluto in Scorpio indicates a token of life, death, rebirth. Then, it will enter Sagittarius, symbol of superior spirit, of metaphysical abstraction, of fundamental seeking.

The other three heavy planets will leave one after another Capricornus to enter Aquarius: Saturn in 1991, Uranus in 1996 and Neptune in 1999 indicating the entering of mankind into the age of Aquarius, generating a new awareness, a new spiritual order. In 1996 Uranus will enter Aquarius whose master it is. Thus, the dominion of materialism and selfishness will come to an end, leading at the same time towards a new society characterized by benevolence and universal integration. This will means the abolishing of the old concepts and the vanishing of any physical and spiritual frontiers.

If Pisces is a sign of water, Aquarius is much more so. Considering the last ages of the cycle, the transition from the zodiacal names of mammals to those of the aquatic beings can be interpreted as the tendency of returning to the Primordial Ocean along the regressive branch of the ellipse, meaning the absorption (dissolution) back into the Original Atom from where the cycle had started. The Age of Aquarius is interpreted as the water of life pouring upon the people (the Kundalini), of the Spirit, of the Holy Ghost, in sign of harmony between the human microcosm and the divine macrocosm.

Time will tell, :-)

Under a New Moon

I stand under a new moon.

My memories have rained with fire as my heart bellowed and exploded.
I followed Mintaka and looked beneath the dying embers of the once green flame.

I am a shining flame and can light my own darkness whenever needed. My wings are perfectly formed and are strong. My breath is deep and free. My tears are no longer for you. My tears are no longer.

I am alive. I survived the flames.

There is a new dream and a new star to align myself with. If it changes direction, I will not be lost. I will merely choose another. There are billions of stars above me just waiting to be wished upon.

My voice is filled with harmony and my song is sweet. The circle around me is filled with light.

I am fate. I decide.

Mille and the Bird

High in a tower hiding behind an overhanging jagged rocked mountainside, in a small room at the very top, lived a beautiful woman.

No fairytale name such as Rapunzel or Beauty or Belle - she was simply Mille and she had been the prisoner of an evil haggard old witch for a very long time.

Mille had no recollection of how long she had been imprisoned or how she had even been captured in the first place.

All she knew were the four faces of the moon, the four colours of the leaves of the one tree outside her tower and the movement of the stars that watched with her as she waited in her small room. The only voice she ever heard had been the wind as it howled, sang, whispered and coo-ed through the seasons.

One morning she awoke in the small room at the very top of the tower and looked out her window down at the overhanging jagged rocked mountainside and over the grey barren valley at the foot of the mountain. The leaves on the trees had burnt orange and yet the morning mist still hung insistently from each one. Mille could hear the wind as it coo-ed and aah-ed its good morning.

Today however the wind was almost singing.

It's not yet time for a wind song, thought Mille, the leaves have two other shades to grow before then and Mintaka was still hanging overhead in the twilight. However the wind’s song was sweet and beautiful and seemed to be coming from just outside her window.

Mille went over to her window and almost expected to actually see the wind singing when all of a sudden a brilliant ball of blue and yellow moved onto the closest branch of the tree that stood steadfastly outside her window. The ball fluttered in the filtered morning sun, basking in the limelight, shook its wings triumphantly and crooned even louder.

Mille’s heart missed a beat, as she looked at the most beautiful bird she had ever seen.

His chest was fluffed red and his eyes were a brilliant emerald green. In spite of her presence, the small bird continued singing and before she knew it, Mille was humming along like she had heard this song before. It was so familiar.

Mille and the small bird sat together lost in melody until the sun faded from the day and the deep blue crept across the horizon beckoning Mintaka back above the tower to once again stand guard.

The next day, the bird flew onto the window ledge holding a fresh sprig of rosemary in its beak. Mille held out her hand and the bird carefully dropped it in. It smelt of a long lost spring, of fields not yet explored and of a warm smile.

Every day the bird delivered a small token into Mille’s outstretched hand.

Three small tubed purple flowers, one black feather, a dried maple leaf, half a blue bus ticket, a jacaranda bud, a ripped section of an old newspaper showing the word THIRD and a small seed pod.

Until one day…………….

I am...We Are

I hold the Earth and stand firm.
I nourish my Love will flourish and grow.
I set roots deep in the ground.
I grow tall.
The OAK tree within me gives shelter, shade and protection.
As this OAK I gently bend in the breeze.
I embrace Air and flow and float and refresh and rejuvenate.
My soul and my heart welcome the cleansing wind.
As Air, I whip through the desert and challenge the mountain and the sand.
I bring a scented change and renewal.
I blow all out to sea.
I become the waves and ebb and flow with the tide.
I surge and billow and blow bubbles of joy.
I wash away and wear down.
Cleansing, soothing, flowing and floating I join hands with the moon and be the tide – within and without.
I will not douse the flame – I will soothe and calm.
I become the flame – I am the fire.
I grow bright and magnificent.
I shine and sparkle.
The wind may dim my flame at times but will never extinguish me.
The Sun strengthens me.
The Moonlight recharges me.
The Earth provides fuel for me to burn and feed my fire.
Every moment, each day, I am all elements as the moon watches over and guides me.
There is Love all around me.
I AM the Love.
I let it go and watch it blow away knowing that the tide will return it to me once more.
I am.
I feed my children with Truth and Love.
Through the underwater caves of time, we meet again and again.
They are my parents, my lovers, my soul mates and my friends.
They are my teachers and I am their student.
My home is my crystal cave and my heart is open and filled with light.
The mythology, which breathed life into my body remains, preserved in everything that surrounds me.
Beauty is all around me and it is this gift I share with my family, for they are the sacred circles.
My twin flame is all around me.
In this space and in this time, there is the nothing and the everything.
It is time.
He is the anchor holding onto me while I float away with the tide.
I am the anchor for his wings rooting him to the Earth when he needs nurture and love.
Our two flames together create one bright and blinding light.
If he falls, I will bleed for him.
If I falter, he will breathe for me.
We are healing conduits and connect with the earth for this power to share with humanity.
I am he and he is me.
Together we are Earth and Air and Water and Fire.
Together we are the Love.
We are the Promise and the Purpose.

Under a moon

I stood under a moon with you.

The skies rained with fire as the earth below us bellowed and exploded. You held me and under that final dying moon, we made a pact to always find each other.

Wandering alone for most of eternity, each angel and anchor would appear when voices of desperate prayer would ask. The question would be answered under a full moon in a Spring Equinox. Follow Mintaka and look beneath the dying embers of the once green flame.

My twin flame, separated in darkness, for whom I searched and craved, left alone and afraid. Our two candles together to make one shining flame to light a darkness that enveloped and choked the growing seeds.

The circle of us cannot be broken - this is a sacred bond. All words spoken so far hold the form of us.

This is exactly where I found you.

Now, I stand under another moon and watch for Mintaka and wonder how could I have been so wrong?

My wings lie torn and bleeding. My breath remains trapped beneath the space between the full moon and the dark. How many tears do I need to cry before my heart finally empties itself of all love and begins to harden, crack and die?

I cry. I ache. I am empty. I feel lost. My vision is impaired. I wish to scream. I work. I sleep. I worry. I meditate. I look for Mintaka at night. I wish upon the moon.

It is the deep essence of me which I fear is lost.
It is the dream upon which I am built.
It is the star I have followed, which has changed its direction.
It is the underlying belief of me which I fear has died.
Where do I go from here without those elements of me?
How can I fly when my wings are broken?
How can I speak when my voice has left me?
The circle around me has fallen in on itself and I sit here in the dark and wait for fate to decide.

Nowhere to Go

They have raced down and stomped up
shaking my foundations.
They have slid and slipped and tripped and fallen.
I can still hear the children playing with
the echoes of laughter still ringing.
I can still feel them hanging and running and
jumping and swinging.

I remember one girl.
She stood on me many years ago and contemplated her future with a man who lied.
I held her on my deck and wrapped my arms around her but she couldn’t feel me.
I never felt her again.

For years I lay abandoned and unloved myself.
One man walked down and climbed up
but mostly ignored me.
I fell apart.
He didn’t notice for a long long time.

After many years of neglect,
some strangers used hammers and pulled me apart,
Until all that was left standing were my
old worn out steps.
Steps with Nowhere to Go.

Red

You have colour!
There is colour in this place!
Out of the shades of brown and grey, tendrils of red sneak into the vacuum of apathy emanating from every pore in this place.

We have watched so many moons rise above these plants in your backyard.
Moons, which have dazzled and shone and energised.
Do you know that your moon is in Aries?
The colour of Aries is red.
You have red!You have Red in this place!

Red is ambition and initiative – bravery and courage.
The winters in our lives steal the reds and purples to cheer us up in the middle of our indifference.
Red is the colour of blood and signifies strength and health and passion.
Hidden in the lethargy, you bloomed with these fronds of Red and re energised me.
Now I have Red!
I found Red in this place!